Monday, December 6, 2010

It's Monday- What Are You Reading?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

I'm reading David Grossman's engrossing To The End of The Land. It's about an Israeli woman, Ora, whose son Ofer has just left for a voluntary military callup. He's just been released from military service when the emergency callup happens and the two were about to take a trip together; she decides to take the trip anyway, first by herself and then accompanied by her former lover, Avram, whose unhappy life is the result of a gamble he made with her and Ilan, their friend and Ora's now ex-husband. I'm only at the very beginning but I'm really loving this book. I'm a big fan of Grossman's from his wonderful novel Someone to Run With; this book is much more overtly political and was dedicated to his son Uri, who was killed in the IDF. Grossman is well-known as an anti-war activist and this novel is meant to reflect that. So far it's fantastic and I can't wait to read more. This book is the reason I haven't posted any Top 10 lists yet because I have a feeling it's going to be right up there.

You can see an interview with Grossman on America Abroad Media here.

What are you reading?

13 comments:

Sycorax Pine said...

I'm reading "The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing," which I think everyone else in the English-speaking world read 5-10 years ago. I had somehow convinced myself that it was going to be chick lit (which I can enjoy with the best of them), and then was very pleasantly surprised to find that it much more closely resembled Roth's "Goodbye, Columbus." It's proving to be very richly written and utterly engrossing.

Zibilee said...

I just finished The Third Policeman by Flan O'Brien and was alternately awed and perplexed with it. It is a wonderfully absurdist work that kept me perpetually flipping the pages and wondering just what crazy thing was going to happen next. I am struggling with how I will even summarize it, let alone review it! After I finished that, I started Healer by Carol Wiley Cassella a few minutes ago.

Darlene said...

I'm glad you're enjoying this one so much Marie - it's got a beautiful cover.

I'm reading The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick. It's quite good and I'm hoping to get back to it some time this afternoon.

pussreboots said...

I'm not reading much right now because I was working on my papers.

Marce said...

That book is intriguing but I don't do politics or history.

My post


http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2010/12/what-are-you-reading-monday.html

bermudaonion said...

This sounds fantastic!!

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

This does sound like an absorbing book. Hope you're enjoying it.

Here's my Monday:

http://laurelrainsnow.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/monday-memes-mailbox-what-are-you-reading-dec-6/

Suzanne said...

I started reading To the End of the Land but the beginning didn't seem to be going anywhere. I would like to pick it up again though. I look forward to seeing your review.

Steph Writes said...

I'm reading American Music by Jane Mendelsohn. Also a book with a war theme. I've read Mendelsohn's two other books and I just love her - she's got such a distinctive, poetic style. I'm also looking forward to reading your review of To the End of the Land, I've heard a lot of good things about it.

Marie Cloutier said...

Suzanne, the beginning is just the beginning. In the next chapter, the characters are adults and the story moves forward rapidly.

Anonymous said...

your read looks interesting.

I will be finishing Emma Donaghue's 'Room' tonight.. was a slow start for me, but it picked up. I'm glad I set an alarm to remember to pick the daughter up from school.

~L

Anonymous said...

I was off track with my reading due to life in general, but am finished with reading this book, now.

Amazing...

Kathleen said...

I can't wait to hear your final thoughts on this one. I am quite intrigued by a book written by an anti-war activist.